Yes, baby, it's cold outside and fun too

Tips for getting kids to enjoy the outdoors, even in winter

This excerpt is from a Chicago Tribune article on ways to Be Out There in winter.

You want your kids to get outside and play, even in the winter. How do you get them to enjoy the great - but chilly - outdoors?

Parent advice:

When the days start getting darker in the fall/winter, we let the boys take flashlights and go for a walk around the block. The novelty of using the flashlights is fun for the boys and it is a good excuse to get outside and beat cabin fever.

-Lorraine Kollman

Expert advice:

It's tempting to hibernate indoors until spring, but getting outside - even in cold weather - is a much healthier option. The National Wildlife Federation says the average American kid spends just four to seven minutes outdoors each day - and that's year-round. The group recently launched an initiative called Be Out There to encourage people to spend more time outdoors in 2010.

We consulted Becky Garland, executive director of the NWF's Connecting People with Nature program, for some ideas on getting kids to jump on the bandwagon:

Be a spy. Winter months are a great time to play "I spy" for animal homes, such as nests, tree hollows, holes in the ground. With little vegetation blocking your view, it's so much easier to see them. Check out nwf.org/wildlifewatch to find animals that might live in your neighborhood.

Read the full article...